MINING NEWS. Thames, July 5.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 280, 11 July 1888, Page 4

MINING NEWS. Thames, July 5.

Saxon. — I visited this mine to-day, but there is not much change to report. The contractors of No. 5 level have driven 11. feet, and are making excellent headway through a favourable channel of sandstone, but the reef is still pinched. The quartz, however, is of a kindly description, but no gold has yet been observed. Colours of gold are seen in the quartz coming to hand ironi the various stopes on the reef, and the stuff shapes payablyatthe battery, although very little picked stone has been obtained lately. Cambria. — 71b of picked stone were secured to-day irom the main reef in the winze at the intermediate level. A stringer about an inch thick has been cut in the drive at No. 4 level, in which dabs of gold were seen to-day. Caledonian. — The .winze below No. 2 level on Rowes leader is down 30 feet, and the leader continues of a promising character. Should it continue to crush from 2 to 3oz per load, it will open a >aluable block of ground. The depth between Nos. 2 and 3 levels is 104 feet on the underlie of the leader, and it would be a simple matter to open it up at No. 3 level, as there cannot bo more than 15 to 20 feet to drive to cut it at that level. The drive along the course of main No. 1 reef at No. 1 level is making slow progress, the reef being 10 t o 12 feet in thickness, and of a hard nature, but a better class of sandstone is making its appearance, and the reef is becoming smaller. The late return of gold from this point averaged from six to seven dwt. per load, but the manager is sure that even this small yield could be made to pay as &>oon as the reef is opened up. llodge and party, who are working a block between Nos. 2 and 3 levels, have put in an intermediate drive, and have brought their stopes up to within 20ft of No. 2 level. Their last crushing of live loads gave a return of 31oz 16dwt melted gold ; consequently numerous applications have been made for the blocks overhead, but the manager reserved them, and recommended his directors to work the same on the Company' account, as he is of opinion that this leader will continue intact above No. 1 level, I am pleased to state that the recommendation has been adopted, and work here is to be started on Monday next. Coromandel, July 5. Royal Oak. — The mine manager reports : There has been no reef broken down during the week, but from what is stripped, the footwall lode &eems small owing to the nature of the ground. The hangingwall reef is improving-, the walls becoming more defined. In about two more days both reefs will be broken down, when the three lodes will be well together. Thames, July 6. Colonist. — The mine manager reports the total distance of the low level tunnel driven up to June 29th is 90 feet. During Monday the reel was broken down and showed dabs of gold freely. Judging from appearances, I think we are just coming on the run of gold obtained in the upper level. The winze is now down 16 feet, and shows gold freely on the fetone being broken on I". Saxon. — The mine manager reports 4930z lOdwt amalgam retorted for 1540z gold from 183 loads of general dirt only. Cambria. — The mine manager reports : Cut stringer in the Tee drive ISo. 4 level ; good dabs of gold were seen when breaking it down. Seven pounds picked stone were obtained from winze on main reef intermediate level. Twenty-seven loads of tailings were put through the berdans for the return of 14oz 6dwt melted gold, and the Tee drive is still going through splendid sandstone country. Observer (Whangamata). — The mine manager reoorts : In about 8 feet driving we found the Goldwater reef in a fresh place, and took out some of the stone in which there is a good show. I showed the stone to the manager oi the Goldwater Company, who said it appeared to him to be similar in quality to the parcel sent to Auckland to Messrs Fraser. He estimated the value of the stone to be about £8 per ton. [At the time the mine manager reported the above, he and the manager of the Goldwater Mine were unaware of the splendid return obtained fiom the five tons sent to Auckland.] Thames, July 7.

THE MOLLOY PROCESS. The gratings ordered some time ago from | Sydney by fche Molloy Company for u&e afc their works afc the "Herald battery have * arrived here. Mr Hale, who is at pre- \ sent in Auckland, will arrive here in I the course of a day or two, and it is ' pi'obable operations will be resumed at the ' Company's works, as soon as the difficulty 1 with the County Council regarding the water is settled. [ Cambria. — The mine manager reports : I The leader cut in the tee drive in No. 4 level is 3 inches in thickness and running ! in about the same direction as the drive [ itself. Good dabs and colours of 1 gold were seen through the quartz in break ' ing it down. This diive is sLill going \ through splendid i looking country. The ; main lode in the winze in the intermediate levels continued to improve as it is sunk upon. ' Saxon. — The mine manager reports: — * 183 loads of general dirt have been crushed during the paat fortnight for ' the return wired, 1540z. At No. ' 5 level quartz is again in hand ; it appears to be about 6 inches thick and carries excellent mineral, while a colour or two of gold was observed in a very small leader running into it. This is 120 feet from the shaft. In the slopes there is no change. Cambria. — The leader cut in the drive at No. 4 level is running in the same couise and has opened out to the width of 5 inches. Colours of gold have again been seen in tho quai^tfc.